Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-01-07

LANCAsrKR. JANUARY :, 1851.
The Internal Revenue Taxes.

The Industrial League, Of which Joseph
Wharton is president, send out from its
Philadelphia headquarters, to manufac-
turers supposed to be in sympathy with its
views, blank forms of a petition TO Con- |
gress praying for the abolition of the In |
ternal revenue taxes. The signatures, |
which the manufacturers are urged 70 |
obtain in the utmost possible quantity,
should have the modified influence on Con-
gress due to their inspiration. The papers
will simply show that the manufacturers
whose names are found upon them have felt
their personal interest. in the removal of
these taxes and the perpetuation of present
tariff duties sufficient to induce them to
solicit signatures which are always to be
had by the ream for any object, when they
cost nothing to the signer.
The people of Pennsylvania are supposed
10 be largely in favor of the proposal to
abolish the internal revenue, both because
OF their interest in the tobacco and whisky
manufacture, which will thus be relieved
Of tax, and because Of their iron and other
manufactures, which will be continue to be
protected by the present high duties. 1t
probably is true that the majority of Penn
sylvania voters favor the Republican
scheme to reduce the national revenue sur
plus by taking Off the internal revenue
taxes; but this is by no means certain
Notwithstanding the Republican majority
in the state. The temperance sentiment,
which is growing one, Is wholly hostile
TO cheap whisky and tobacco. The sensi-
bic people Of the state, who may be sup.
posed to be in majority, will not fail 70
see that, since taxes must be imposed, they
can be most Justly put upon articles which
are not only luxuries but which are, in
their abuse at least, physically injurious,
No one will question the evils which flow
from the free use of whisky and tobacco,
and the cheaper they are the freer will he
their use. Therefore it is to the public in
terest to make them as dear as possible
and the highest collectable tax that can be
imposed should be put upon intoxicating
liquors, used as a beverage, and upon to.
bacco, used in chewing, smoking and
snufiing even though no. better use could
be had Of lhe.-resultant revenue than t
~throYsit into the sea.
If this be the intelligent sentiment of tht
country and the state, then Pennsylvania
even, will not favor the revenue scheme Of
the Industrial League and the Republ
can party. 1t is sad TO think that self
interest will drive men to favor public meas
ures that they believe will do injury TO tht
many, TO benefit a few Of which they arr
part. But there is no other way in which
to account for the effort of the Pennsylva
mia protectionists TO secure free whisky
and tobacco.
Here in Lancaster county, we presume
that that the local interest in the removal
Of the whisky and tobacco tax is as great
as anywhere, because of our immense TO-
bacco production and our important dis
tilling interests.
1t may well be that here, in the hot bed
OF hepublicanism, the removal of the in
ternal revenue taxes would be voted for by
large majority. If SO, we stand our.
selves firmly against this popular sentiment
and declare, with emphasis, that the re.
m0val OF one cent from the duty on tobac
co and whisky will be public wrong. The
release Of spirits used in medicine from tax
alton, as suggested in Mr.. Randalls pro
posed bill, we believe would be a wis'
measure. 1t can be made without embar
assing the collection of tax upon ordinary
spirits, and should be done in the interes
Of humanity and the public health.